Buckle or clasp for watch bracelets and the like



March 12, 1940. Q NM N 2,193,596

BUCKLE 0R CLASP FOR WATCH BRACELETS AND THE LIKE Filed May 51, 1938 Patented Mar. 12, 1940 BUCKLE on CLASP FOR WATCH BRACELET sj AND THE LIKE i Charles H. Kestenman, Providence, 1;, assignor I to Kestemnan Bros. Mfg; 00., Providence, R. 1., a'corporation of Rhode Island Application May 31, 1938, Serial No. 210,919

l 9 Claims. (o1. a r-#1 firms invention; relates to, improvementsv in buckles, claspaor. connectors .for watchebracelets.

and-particularly to... clasps of the extension type avingarticulated elements which fold one; over another to contract. the bracelet and fasten it to the, wrist of the wearer.

- .One ob-ject. of the. invention is to providepositively-acting latching means for retaining the connected members, of a clasp in closed or folded 10.; relationship.

Another-object of the invention is. to provide detent or latching means of. the type indicated which provide greater security, and must be manually released to unlock the folding elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide latching means which engage-positively between theparts of the. clasp. in such manner as to. prevent accidental release thereof under strain or stress-to causeunwarranted, opening. or unfold- 29, ing; of the clasp. v

Another object of theinvention is to provide manually-operable means for releasing the latching means withease. and. convenience.

-Further, objects of the improvement are set 25, forth ina-the following specification which. illustrates two preferred forms. of construction of the invention, byway of example, as illustratedbythe accompanying drawing; In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective viewof alink-type brace-= let attached to a;,wrist-watch with its ends joined by a folding clasp or. connector embodyingthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is, an. enlarged plan view of the clasp showngwith, itscover partly broken away to more clearly illustrate thelatching-means;

' Fig. 3 'isga-longitudinal. sectional view'of the clasp shown in Fig. 2 taken: in. a median plane Fig. 4-is'a;-:plan View illustrating the clasp with its part in. .unfolded and extended relationship;v

Fig. 5, is a longitudinal sectional. view of the same taken in a median plane;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view'of the clasp showing its parts in unfolded andextended relationship;

Fig. 7 is a planview of the bottom memberof the claspillustrated partly in section to show the latches and the manually-operable releasing means therefor; t

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view on line 33-4! of Fig. 2 showing the latches on the bottom member engaged with'the cover member to hold the parts in folded relationship;

Fig. dis a similar View showing the latches released; and. g 10. is. afview simila'ryto. Fig. 7 showing a' modified form of construction of the latchin means and manually-operable releasing means therefor as applied to arelatively narrow clasp for ladies. wrist-Watch-, bracelets,

In accordance with the present mode, a popular type .of wrist-watch bracelet embodies a linkage 2 connected to the sidesof the watch 3, as shown in Fig. l of the presentdrawin-g, with theoppositeend-s of the bracelet joined-by an ornamentalclasp '5. One of the mostpopularclasps of this typeyis comprised of a plurality of articulated or hinged elements #6 and Twhich'foldone upon another into a cover ill, as shown most clearly in Figs. 2 to.5. In certain instances the clasp maycompr-ise still: another extension member I2 which is slidable betweenthe foldable members, for example, it may be telescopically mounted in the cover H3. Also, as herein shown, the slidable extension memberli is provided'with a springdetent or pawl 13 adaptedto engage with the teeth M of a ratchet on oneof the foldable memhers I when the parts are in closed relationship as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The extension member l2.-may thus-be adjusted longitudinally of the clasp to regulate the length of the bracelet to adapt'it to fit snugly around the wrist of the wearer, whilebeing released by the ratchet means when the clasp is opened o-r unfolded to further extend the length'of the bracelet as a whole. g

'Iheseveral parts of the bracelet-clasp as thus. far described are wellknown in the art and the present invention isappliedto use-therewith for positively latching or looking the folda-ble elementsv withinthe cover or upper member iii. For this purposel provide one .or more spring-arms 15 mounted. on one. foldable element of the clasp and having latches If atthei-r ends for positively engaging with detent. means on another part. As illustrated in Figs. '2, to '9, a pair of spring arms I5 are mounted on the bottom member 6 of the clasp with their latches: constructed in the form of lugs or ears l tprojecting laterally through 7 slots 17 in the upstanding sides; of the member 6, see Figs. 4-. '7 and 8. It will be noted. by reference to these latter views that the bottom member 6=of the clasp; is of-channel form hav-- ing a bottom plate l3 with upstanding side walls l9.

The spring-arms, 15-:are preferablymade integral witha. bifurcated'plate-like element 20.

constructed from spring-tempered sheet-metal. Folded upwardly'from the sides of the-armsl5 of the. latch-element Zil 'are: flanges 21 which-ex tend rearwardly beyond the endof the bottom plate of the element in ears 22. The upstanding flanges 2| abut the inner faces of the side walls IQ of the bottom member 6 and the ears 22 are pierced with holes for receiving the hinge-pin 23 which connects the bottom member 6 of the clasp with the intermediate folding element I which is similarly connected to the cover IIl.

By this form of construction the latch-element 20 is permanently connected to the inner end of the bottom member 6 of the clasp while permitting its arms I5 to be sprung inwardly as shown in Fig. 7. The latches I6 are formed by laterally-projecting portions of the stock of the arms bent upwardly and then outwardly as shown more particularly in Figs. 8 and 9. The latches I6 project through the slots IT in the side walls I9 of the member 6, as before indicated, thus holding the arms I5 fiat against the bottom wall It of the member 6 while permitting free lateral movement of the arms.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 3, 8 and 9, when the hinged members 6 and I are folded into overlying relationship within the cover member ID, in the manner indicated by dash-lines in Fig. 5, the sides of the cover close down across the side walls I9 of the bottom member 6 as most clearly illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. The cover member I0 is of substantially box-shape in crosssection with its side walls 24 folded inwardly at the bottom to form longitudinally extending flanges 26. The edges of the flanges 25 fit closely against the side walls I9 of the bottom member 6 when the several parts of the clasp are in folded or clasped relationship and the latches I6 on the spring-arms I5 are then adapted to slide outwardly to overlie the upper edges of the flanges 25 as shown in Fig. 8. It is also to be noted that the bottom edges of the flanges are beveled or rounded at 33 to adapt the latches I6 to snap across the flanges in the manner as later explained. By springing the arms I5 toward each other as shown in Figs. '7 and 9 the latches I6 may be withdrawn through the slots I! in the side walls I6 of the bottom member 6 to release their locking engagement with the flanges 25.

As an improved means ior manually releasing the latches I6 to permit unfolding of the parts of the clasp, a slide 26 is provided on the member 6. The slide 26 takes the form of a flat plate, shown most clearly in Figs. 4, 5 and '7, which is connected to the member 6 by means of tabs 21 extending through slots 28 in the slide. The tabs 21 are constructed from portions of the metal cut away from the bottom plate I8 of the member 6 and bent up from the sides of the opening 29 thus formed, see Fig. 6. The tabs 2! project through the slots 28 and are bent over at rightangles to overlie the top of the slide 26 as illustrated most clearly in Figs. 4 and 5. At its inner end the slide 26 is formed with a V-shaped opening 30, the opposite sides of which provide inclined cam-faces adapted to engage against correspondingly-inclined angular edges 3! at the ends of the arms I5. It will thus be observed that when the slide 26 is slid longitudinally into the member 6 the angularly related faces of the opening 36 will cam against the inclined edges 3| on the arms I5 to spring the latter inwardly as illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawing. The slide 26 projects outwardly beyond the end of the member 6 and has a narrowed portion which is rolled over to form a tubular ring or loop 32 for connection to the end of the bracelet. As shown in Fig. 5 the tubular end portion or loop 32 on the slide 26 is hooked through the end link of the bracelet 2 and closed together as illustrated in Fig. 5. The loop portion 32 thus serves as a finger-piece for pressing the slide 26 inwardly into the member 6 to release the latches to unlock the parts of the clasp while, normally, any strain on the bracelet tends to maintain the slide withdrawn from engagement with the arms I5 when their latches I6 are interlocked with the cover III.

In applying the bracelet to or removing it from the Wrist the present improved clasp operates as next explained. The bracelet is placed on the wrist by passing it over the hand while the several parts 6, I, I6 and I 2 of the clasp 5 are in extended relationship as illustrated in Fig. 5. Thereafter, the parts 6 and l of the clasp are folded into overlying relationship and swung into position within the cover ID, the latches I6 acting automatically to snap across the rounded edges 33 of the flanges 25 as the arms I5 are sprung inwardly from the sides I9 of the member 6. After the clasp has been closed in this manner the extension member I2 may he slid into the cover III to adjust the bracelet snugly around the wrist of the wearer. During this operation the pawl I3 on the extension member I2 slides over the ratchet-teeth on the member 7 and eventually engages the proper tooth to retain the extension member adjusted to the required position.

To remove the bracelet from the wrist the slide 26 is first slid into the member 6 by pressing the thumb or finger against its curled loop portion 32, this action causing the angular faces of the V- shaped opening 30 to cam against the inclined edges 3i of the spring-arms I5 to withdraw the latches I6 from engagement with the flanges 25 on the cover II]. With the cover released from the bottom member 6 the several parts of the clasp may be unfolded and as the member 'I is moved away from the cover it releases the pawl I3 to permit the member I2 to be extended longitudinally from the cover. It is also to be noted that the resiliency of the latch-arms I5 will cause them to spring apart immediately the pressure on the slide 26 is released by the operator and the cam-edges 3I at their ends will cam the slide outwardly of the member 6 into inoperative position. The manual operation of the clasp is thus extremely simple and convenient to accomplish while the latching means, because of its positive action, provides for greater security against accidental unclasping of the bracelet.

Fig. 10 illustrates a modified form of construction of the clasp which is particularly adapted for use on ladies watch-bracelets. In this latter form of construction the bottom member 36 of the clasp is relatively narrow and to conserve space a single latch-arm 31 is employed. The latch-arm 31 is constructed integral with a plate member 38 of bifurcated form seated against the bottom wall of the member 36 and provided with upstanding flanges 35 and 46 which abut the side walls 4| thereof. The latch-element 38 is secured in position within the member 36 by a different form of construction from that previously described; the object being to eliminate ears at the hinge-joint between the member 36 and its connecting member l to avoid a reduction in the width of the bearing for the hinge-pin 23. The arm 31 has a latch 45 projecting laterally therefrom through a slot 46 in the side of the member 36 and on the opposite arm 31 is a similar projection ll fitted to a narrower slot in the side wall of the member 66. At the opposite end of the latch-member 33 a lug 48 projects into an opening encase inthesidewall ofthe member 3.6,.-thetwo'lugs 47. and 48.: serving .to; secure .:the llatchemember. or plate =38 in position. both longitudinally l of 1 and against upward movement on thelmemloer ifih As a further means-of fastening the. latch-elementv 381m place themetal of the side wall of the member 36 may be indented onthe outside. to iorm a projection .89. onitsfinner. faceoverlying the top of the-side flange on the latch-element.

In this. last-described embodiment. of the. in-..

vention the-slide ii for releasingthe latching.

means is of the same formas thatpreviously de= scribed, except that itsinward endisyprovided with .a single angularicam-face Bl for acting against theinclined edge 52 of the arm which carries the latchJlfi. The'methodoi'operation of, the last-described device is. the same as with. I

ing means is particularly adapted to prevent acci I dental unclasping of the bracelet, it being necessary to manually operate said means to release them and any strain or pull on the bracelettends to hold the releasing slide in inoperative position.

It will also be observed that all the mechanical elements of the deviceare enclosed and con sealed from view when the clasp is closed. More- .over, there are no projecting finger-pieces or levers on the outside of the clasp. In other words, one of the connecting parts of-the clasp serves as the means for manually actuating the latch-releasing slide and thus the mechanical featuresbesides being unobtrusive, do not project from the sides or the end of the clasp insuch manner as to. be liable'to scratch the wrist or catch in the garments of the wearer of the bracelet. I

Whilethe present improved device is herein illustrated in two preferred forms of construction, it is to be understood that certain changes may be made in the structure and arrangement of its parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without lim:

iting myself in this respect, I claim:

1,. A. clasp or connector for watch-bracelets and the like comprising a plurality of hingedly-connected foldable members, latching means for holding said members in overlying contracted relationship, andmeans at one end of the clasp for connecting it to the end of a bracelet, said means being mounted to slide longitudinally of the clasp, and operative to release the latching means to permit extension'of the members of the clasp.

2. A clasp or connector for watch-bracelets and the like comprising hingedly-connected members adapted to be folded into overlying contracted relationship, latching means for holding said members in contracted; relationship, and a member mounted to. slide on one of the hingedly connected members and having means at one end thereof adapted for connection to the end of a bracelet, said member being slidable into the clasp and embodying means operative on the latching means to release the latter.

. 3. A claspor connector-for watch-braceletsand the likecomprising a cover-member andsaplue rality :of 3 extension 'members hingedly connected thereto. to foldinto overlying relationship. there, with, latc-hing means. on one of" said membersfor. engaging with another. of the members; to hold said members. in overlying relationship, za..slide mounted at the end of oneof the members to slide longitudinally thereoi= and formed to adapt it for connection with an'end of: the bracelet, said slide having meansthereon so constructed and arranged as to cause it to release'the latch ing means-when it is slid longitudinally of the' member on which it is mounted.) f

4. A claspor connector'for Watch-bracelets and the like comprising a plurality; of interconnect ed' 1 members adapted to' be ioldedinto overlying 'rela r tionship to contract the bracelet; around thewris t,

a resilient latch on one of the members adapted to engage. with another member to hold the several members'in folded relationship, a' 'sl' e slidable on one of the members, and cam m means between the slide andthelatch adapted to, release the latter when the slideiis slid longitude nally of the member on. which it is mounted.

5. A clasp or connector iorwatch-bracelets'jand the like comprising, a. plurality o'f'liingedly, connected foldable members adapted to 'be fcon tracted into overlying relationship, a resilientv arm on one of the members having a latch adapted to engage with another member to hold the several members infolded relationship, said arm formed with an inclined cam-face at its end, a slide slidable on the member carrying the latcharm and formed with a cam-face engageable with the cam-face thereof, said slide being slidable longitudinally of the member on which it is mounted to cause the cam-faces to release the latch from the member with which it is engaged.

6. A clasp or connector for watch-bracelets and the like comprising a cover-member and a bottom member with an intermediate member hingedly interconnected therewith to adapt the 7 several members to be folded into overlying rela-v tionship, said cover member having a flange projecting inwardly from its side, a resilient latch carried. by the bottom member and. adapted to I snap across the edge of the flange on. the covermember to hold the several members in. folded relationship, a slide slidable longitudinally of the bottom member, and camming means connected to the slide and the latch and operative to, release the latter from engagement with the flange on the cover-member when the slide is slid longitudinally of the bottom member.

'7. A clasp or connector for watch bracelets and the like comprising a channel-shaped covermember, a channel-shaped bottom member, an

intermediate member hingedly connected to the.

ends of the eover member and bottom member to adapt said members to be folded into overlying relationship; said cover-member having an in-.

turned flange at its side forming a latching shoulder, a resilient arm fixedly mounted at one end within the bottom member and having a latch ing lug projecting through a slot in the side of the bottom member to adapt it to snap over the edge of the flange on the cover-member to hold the parts in folded relationship, said latch-arm having an angular edge at its free end, and a slide slidably mounted within the sides of the bottom member and formed'at its inner end with. an angular face adapted to cam against 'the angular end of the latch-armto move the latter to release the latch from engagement with the shoulder on the cover.

8. In a clasp or connector for watch-bracelets and the like, the combination of a channelshaped cover-member having inturned flanges at the bottom of its sides, a channel-shaped bottom member having upstanding walls adapted to fit between the inturned flanges on the covermember, an extension member hingedly connected to the ends of the cover and bottom member to adapt the several members to be folded into overlying relationship with the bottom member enclosed within the sides of the covermember, a resilient arm abutting the bottom wall of the bottom member and formed with a latch at its end projecting through an opening in the side of the bottom member to adapt it to snap over the flange on the cover-member to latch the several members in folded relationship, said arm also having an upstanding flange secured to the side of the bottom member, a slide slidable within the sides of the bottom member, and camming means formed on the slide and the end of the arm and adapted to be engaged by movement of the slide longitudinally of the bottom member to cam the arm away from the side of the bottom member to release the latch from engagement with the flange on the cover-member.

9. A clasp or connector for watch-bracelets and the like comprising a. cover-member of channel shape having inturned flanges at the bottom of its sides, a bottom member of channel shape having upstanding sides adapted to fit between the edges of the flanges on the cover member, extension means connecting said cover-member and bottom member to adapt them to be closed into overlying relationship, a bifurcated latching plate on the bottom member having a resilient arm with a latch at its end projecting from the side of the bottom member to adapt it to snap over the flange on the cover-member, lateral projections on the sides of the bifurcated plate engaging through openings in the sides of the bottom member to secure said plate in fixed position thereon while adapting the spring-arm to yield to withdraw the latch into the opening in the side of said bottom member, a slide slidable within the bottom member, and camming faces formed on the slide and the end of the latching arm adapted to be engaged by the sliding movement of the slide to move the arm to release the latch.

CHARLES H. KES'I'ENMAN. 

